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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss announced Friday that the network's nearly century-old radio network would be shut down, affecting roughly 700 stations across the United States.
The announcement came in a memo to staff seen by Newsweek announcing layoffs, in which Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski said the decision was necessary but difficult.
"A shift in radio station programming strategies, coupled with challenging economic realities, has made it impossible to continue the service," the execs told staff.
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CBS News Radio will go off air on May 22, the memo read.
A Paramount spokesperson told Newsweek roughly 6 percent of the workforce at CBS News was laid off on Friday, including within radio,
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CBS News to Lay Off 6% of Staff: What We Know
In February, rumored cuts put the figure closer to 15 percent of staff, and the timeline put the decision anywhere from March to May, per Variety.
Weiss and Cibrowski told CBS News staff on Friday morning that 6 percent of the workforce would be cut, explaining that the news business was changing and the outlet needed to change with the times.
"That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive," the pair said in their statement.
Weiss has been clear that she wants to make changes at CBS News since taking over in October 2025, including moving toward more digital offerings and away from traditional broadcast services.
The execs said they would treat the staff set to lose their jobs "with care and respect."
Later Friday, the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) said the layoffs were a result of "inept leadership" by Weiss and Paramount owner David Ellison.
"Once again, our members have lost their jobs due to the recklessness and greed of their bosses," the guilds said in a joint statement shared with Newsweek.
"CBS News Radio is an institution, where generations of the finest journalists in the country spent their careers reporting the news and holding people in power to account. The decision to simply shutter CBS News Radio is indicative of Bari Weiss and David Ellison's inept leadership."
The guilds said that the staff laid off have served Americans through their talent and dedication to their craft, and warned against Ellison being allowed to also acquire CNN.
When Was CBS News Radio Established?
CBS News Radio began in 1927, then known as the United Independent Broadcasters network. In 1928, the company became the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
Initially operating as a national network, CBS News Radio led to the creation of the television network and a radio network of affiliates around the U.S.
Its long-running World News Roundup started in 1938 and has run ever since.
In announcing the radio network's closure, Weiss and Cibrowski said it was the foundation of everything CBS.
"The coming weeks will be difficult for the team members who have worked tirelessly at CBS News Radio," the memo read. "We are committed to supporting these valued colleagues with care and respect as we wind down operations. They have been critical to our success and remain treasured friends and professionals. We thank them deeply for their contributions."
Update 3/20/2026, 12:18 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/20/26, 4:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from WGAE and WGAW.
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